Hey Ashton,
If you just want to read how I improved my health, just go down to how i got rid of my panic attacks, in case you're not interested in my life history.
I've taken an SSRI (Luvox) since 1999 and pretty much off n on throughout so in total probably 8 or 9 years straight. When I first started taking it, it was like magic! made me more self-confident, ready to take on the world and in some ways, changed my personality altogether so that was a positive change and I thought, wow, a pill can make such a substantial change.
But over time, what happened was, that it became less and less effective till I reached a point last year in April where I had my 4th panic attack that took me to the ER and I thought I was gonna die as one normally thinks when you're having a panic attack. And since the last breakdown it's been quite a fight trying to get back to normal again. Since I've read extensively over the last year, trying to improve and what i've found is that the SSRIs, all of them, slowly rob your adrenal glands (the stress controlling glands) of your body and when they became tired or are under heavy strain, you end up in the ER. If you notice, usually on the leaflet that comes with the SSRI, it says, take the med for 6 months, that's the recommended duration and I think that's the correct way of using them if at all. But doctors really don't tell us about
the dangers of using them long-term.
Anyhow, after getting into the adrenal fatigue mode, I ended up being on a Benzo (Bromazepam) for 4 months along with my Luvox...and hell man, that was a bumpy ride. So now I had both of them in the mix and over the course of the year, I'm happy to report, I've been able to give up both the Benzo and the SSRI. And believe me, I can actually sleep now and have dreams. Dreams are important cause when you dream, that's when your body is actually repairing itself and you're in deep sleep. So I would definitely advise trying to get off this crap. I remember that after April last year, whenever I took my Luvox dose, I actually felt anxious for 2 or 3 hours after that. how strange no?
HOW I GOT RID OF MY PANIC ATTACKS:
The first thing I had to do was, drum roll, give up REFINED SUGAR! Can you imagine, how anxiety and panic attacks could have such a crazy source and normally one doesn't even go there but most mental problems have a digestive system cause. You put in crap in your body, that's how your body becomes. Your neurotransmitters are mostly made in your gut, so if your gut flora is ruined by too much refined sugar, it'll play havoc with your mind. Been there, done that so talking from experience. So please get rid of sugar, chocolates,
cookies, potato chips, white bread, white flour and caffeine. You'll begin to notice an immediate change in your moods. Instead, consume more protein, fats, YES FATS, healthy ones, like from nuts, butter, eggs, even milk, if you can tolerate it and that's preferably raw milk if you can find that in the US. I found that warm milk had a very soothing effect on me. Eat a balanced meal each time with protein being the primary source of your meal. Have complex carbs like brown bread as your main staple as opposed to white bread. Try to keep your blood sugar stable, big culprit in anxiety and have meals throughout the day. I also had about
2000mg of vit C when I was at my worst since I've read vit C makes things better in terms of anxiety but you have to be careful to go up slowly and come down slowly since the body gets used to taking high does of vit C and can cause rebound Scurvy if you come down too fast. Plus vit C takes coud certain things like copper from your body if taken in high doses. So be careful with that. Besides that, try chamomile tea! It's heaven sent. Very calming effect when your mind is racing in all different directions. Basically, all I'm saying is that you can take care of your mind through your diet.
Sugar even takes nutrients out of your body. I wish someone had told me all this when I was 20! So enjoy everything but in moderation.
Besides that, exercise everyday, if you have the energy and your nervous system can handle it. But don't fall into the trap of adding more mental medications to your list cause it'll further aggravate the situation for one, and will cause more problems down the line. If you need any more guidance, feel free to message me. Wishing well to everyone!
Basically, SSRIs cause all sorts of long term problems like even blood sugar issues which can manifest themselves in different ways. one of them being anxiety...so imagine a drug you're taking to control anxiety further causes it.
Watch a documentary called, Making a Killing: Marketing of Madness, on how drug companies are pushing these mental meds on a helpless population. Though produced by the cult Scientology, if you've taken a mental med, you'll agree with it 90% if not a 100.
Cheers from Pakistan! Yes, Pakistan!
Post Edited By Moderator (Scaredy Cat) : 3/7/2013 8:29:12 AM (GMT-7)